Slight advantage to Romney. Obama avoided direct answers to questions. And I thought Romney did a very good job of driving home the idea that four more years of Obama would be just more of the same as the last four years.

Translation: The polls generally confirmed what we already know about the two candidates. People like Romney on a personal level less than the President Obama, but leadership qualities are questionable and he has some vulnerability there. However, a second round of numbers provide a much more troubling story for Obama in that same CNN/ORC

Translation: Obama cannot seem to get people to buy the narrative that the economy would be in a worse spot without him. That's problematic for the President who doesn't have much to run on in this election in regards to the economy. 47 million people are on foodstamps. The job market participation rate is the lowest in 30 years. 23 million people out of work. Obama isn't lying when he says 5 million new jobs have been created. Then again, they aren't really new jobs, they are just making up for lost ground. Obama might say that people are in a better place, but it's hard to see that. President Obama cannot hope to see this debate put him on favorable ground when the economy is such a critical point voters are considering.

In other words, the debate tonight was a draw, or even a slight win for Obama. Fine, but it might end up being a hollow victory. More people still see Romney as having a stronger vision in this regard. As a final note, that same CNN/ORC poll is also reporting the following. 61% of those polled say Obama doesn't have a clear plan for the country's problems, compared to just 50% who say the same about Romney.

That doesn't make for a winning debate, let alone for a winning candidacy.

Posted by mchalesarmy on 10/17/2012 12:58:00 AM (view original):Perhaps. But when the undecideds wield such a mighty sword this year, I think the debates will go a lot further than the average election year.